Dental articulator



(No Model.) R. H. ANTES.

DENTAL ARTIGULA'TOB..

` 110. 547,195. Patented 001. 1, 1895.

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DNTAL ARTICULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Fatent No. 547,195, dated October1, 1895.

Application filed July 2, 1895. Serial No.5541679. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that L'ROBERT I-I. ANTES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Geneseo, in the county of Henry and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Dental Articulators, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description,that willenable others to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this application.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of dental devicesemployed in the process of preparing plates for artificial teeth, andhas for its object the construction of an appliance of this characterwherein the natural movement of the human jaws will be closely followedand the articulation accurately obtained and the teeth made to fit themouth no matter what the relative position of the jaws may be withreference to each other. It is frequently the case that one of the jawsoverlaps the other, rendering it a very difficult matter to geta properarticulation, and the bite of the teeth imitated so that they accuratelyfit the mouth.

This invention embraces construction features in addition to thevertical movement of the lower mechanical j aw, whereby a lateral orforward-and-back movement is obtained of a positive character, and aftereach movement the parts are automatically and accurately returned totheir normal position, thus greatly facilitating the articulating of aset of teeth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2, a plan; Fig. 3, atransverse section on line 3, Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicatedby the arrow; Fig. 4, a broken-away longitudinal section online 4, Fig.4; Fig. 5, a transverse section on line 5, Fig. 2, and Fig. (i adetached plan of a bracket to which the upper j aw-plate is adj ustablyattached. y

The upper jaw-plate A and the lower jawplate B have the usual hingedconnection providing for the opening-and-closing movement. The upperplate A is provided in its rear end with aslot a, through which isloosely inserted a hand clamping-screw a', having a threaded engagementwith the inner end of a bracket C. A rib a?, Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 6, isformed on the upper side of bracket C and forms a guide for the upperplate in adjustvhinged movement for the plates or mechanical jaws. Theslotsin the bracket also provide for an endwise or forwardand-backmovement of the upper platein ahorizontal plane. Theinner end of a tubehis loosely connected to and supported in position on pivot-pin D. A rodb is loosely inserted in tube b and has the outer threaded endprojecting through (see Figs. I, 2, and 4) the rear end of bracket C. Aspring b2 is located inside of the tube and coiled around the rodextending longitudinally therethrough, as shown in Fig. 4. A nut h3 onthe outer end of rod b provides for regulating the tension of thespring. By reason of this construction and arrangement the upper plate Aand its bracket are adapted tohavealimited lateral movementin a curvedplane, and when the pressure imparting such movement is relaxed theplate is automatically returned to its normal position by the action ofthe spring.

The inner end 0f the tube in which the spring is chambered being looselyconnected to the hinging pivot-pin will slide in either directionthereon, and at the same time the spring and its rod have an endwisemovement in providing for and accommodating themselves to the change ofposition of the upper jaw-plate in its lateral movement. Normally thebracket is in the position illustrated, the wail of the back ends of theslots a4 bearing against the pivot-pin. l/Vhen the upper jawplate andits bracket are moved straight backward the pressure of the spring hasthe effect of returning these parts to their normal position, the sameas moved laterally-in fact, the lateral or back movement may becoincident. A hand-screw d, inserted through the crossbar d of the rearextension of the lower plate B, bears against the under side of theupper plate when in a closed position and provides the usual means foradjusting the inclination of the upper plate.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, s-

1. In an articulator, the combination with connected thereto, andadapted to have a latthe upper jaW-plate, adapted to have both a eraland endwise movement, the lower jaw I5 lateral and endwise movement, of`a spring, plate', a: pivot-pin, connecting said bracket adapted toautomaticallyreturn said plate to and lower-plate, a tube, looselyconnected to 5 its normal positiomsubstantially as described. Said pin,a rod, inserted loosely through said 2. In an artieulator, thecombination with tube, a spring, coiled thereon, and a tension the upperspring pressed jaw-plate, ot' a regulating-nut,mounted on the threadedend zo bracket, provided with slots in the respective of said rod,Substantially as described. sides thereof, the lower jaw-plate, and thero pivot-pin, connect-iner said bracket and lower ROBERT II. ANTES.

plate, substantially as described. IVitnesses:

3. In an articulator, the combination with HENRY T. ANTES, a bracket,ofthe upper javi-"plate, adj ustably F. H. MGARTHUR.

